Wichita eagle., 1887-05-08
BATHS FOR THE MASSES.
A PLACE WHERE THE POOR MAY
Battle At SLIGHT EXPENSE.

A PLACE WHERE THE POOR MAY
Battle At SLIGHT ExPENeE.
A Michigan Lumbsrman's Philanthropis
Scheme for the BENEFIT Of Chisago's
Poor-A Model Establishment In Every
way-Generous Oner.
A wealthy Michigan lumberman, inspired
by purely humanitarian motives, has started
to do for the poor of Chicago what the city
should have done long ago. BE Is not even
q resident of the city and has no interests
here beyond praiseworthy desire to benefit
mankind. His name Is Charles F. Ruggles
and his home In Manistee, Mich, where he
has built up great numbering industry and
accumulted property that aggregates some
thing like s., 600, 900. Mr.. Ruggles Is a bach
elor and spends good deal of his time and
money in performing charitable acts His
pet whim, and one that has won him the
reputation of being mild sort of crank, Is
that the public ought to be induced to tako
frequent baths. Summer and winter he
takes bath regularly every morning, and
he points with pride to the fact that he has
never known sick day in his life. This be
attriutes entirely to cleansing his skin from
impurities.
One day last summer while in Chicago he
noticed that great many persons whom he
met on the streets and in the horse cars were
personally very dirty. On making inquiries
he found that IS cents was the lowest price at
which q person could obtain bath, SO no
determined to establish bath house hare
fho 1~o f,f
even the poorest. 1t did not take long to get
this project started, and he began by leasing
the first floor and basement Of large brick
building on west Madison street. This local
ity was well selected as being the most 60
nearly $500 to tit the place up, as no
money was spared in making 1t both COM
Portable and attractive. Aug. 81 the baths
were opened to the public at prices ranging
from to 10 cents Mr.. Ruggles In estab-
fishing these prices had no idea that the place
could be made self sustaining the first year
that it was in operation, and he counted ON
the city to help him out by furnishing free
water. His first move in this direction met
with no end Of opposition. Mr.. Ruggles
consulted an attorney and was told that any
charitable institution, Endorsed by two tax
the city free Of charge, and be has now
made an open appeal to the mayor.
Any one who visits the place and sees tie
accommodations that are furnished for
mere trifing consideration can but admit
that it is charitable institution Of tho high
est order and one that is entitled to public
consideration. On entering one steps into a
neat Office tastefully furnished and separated
~ <b<, OIL Oh, hxy
screen. On the left is the cashiers desk
where woman appointed by the Women's
Christian Temperance union presida. II
and the cashier hands out ticket on which
is printed the number Of the room you are
to occupy and the length of time you are
permitted to remain This ticket Is taken
at the gate by one Of the porters who con-
operate the bath, and gives you any atten-
ton that may be required When the ticket
is given out the cashier jots down the num-
Der of the room on q time sheet and when the
bather closes the door Of hts apartment the
fact is known in the Office by means Of an
electric annunciator similar to those used In
hotels. Time is then taken and noted on the
sheet under tho number Of the room. The
and If there is no one waiting he can stay -
long as he desires. If the room Is wanted for
another the cashier touches an electric button
when the allotted time has expired and this
rings bell in the room, informing the bather
that he must dress
The bath rooms, fort -four in number, are
ranged in two tiers and in double rows. In
the first tier there are sixteen rooms, each
five feet six inches long and five feet wide
and Of sufficient height to accommodate the
tallest persons. They arc divided into ex-
elusive apartments by pine partitions Of hard
oil finish. Not speck of dirt can be seen
on the woodwork, which Is carefully scrubbed
every night In these rooms is a metal tub,
lined with porcelain and with faucets for
hot and cold water. Printed rules, which
are by no means stringent, are placed on the
walls Of each compartment, and there are
also directions for manipulating the fixtures
Ventilators connecting with high shaft are
placed in each room to carry off the steam
and heat, so that the temperature never
varies, while the atmosphere is at all times
healthful and pleasant. There are towel
racks, brushes, shampoo bottles, a folding
chair, foot drains, hooks on which to haoS
clothing, and in fact all the appurtenanoes
necessary in fitting up O first class modern
bath room. These baths arc furnished for
10 cents each, and a reduction of cents Is
allowed to those who bring their own towels.
An iron staircase leads to the upper tier,
which contains twenty-e rooms These
are fitted up III a similar manner to the
rooms in the lower tier only they are some
what smaller, and instead Of a tub have q
large shower fixture. The shower baths
cost but 5 cents, or 3 cents If the bather brings
towels. The bather undresses, and after
drawing rubber curtain in front Of him to
protect his clothing from being splashed he
stands on a drain under the fixture and turns
on shower Of hot and cold water. The
shower and temperature of the water are
regulated by the bather himself.
In the rooms set apart for women are large
mirrors with combs and brushes, but the men
after dressing descend to the basement,
where large toilet room is fitted up, and
when their toilet is completed they can reach
the street without returning to the Office. In
going out they pass through large barber |
shop, which is handsomely fitted up, and
where a shave can be obtained for 10 cents |
This Is part Of the establishment When the |
bather leaves his room an indicator drops |
down over the door, showing that the room |
is in disorder. One of the porters at once
enters and gives it a thorough scrubbing |
1t is then ready for another occupant
Having established the baths and demon |
strated beyond question their importance and |
value, Mr.. Ruggles now offers to donate the |
plant to the city if the city will agree to !
maintain the present low prices and devote |
X hafayer income NAV horoo ftar IA dar;vod |